Departments & Services Descriptions

Budget and Evaluation
Directs resources to meet the needs of city departments and city residents.

City Attorney Responsible for legal counsel to the mayor and city council, city boards and agencies, the city manager, and other administrators.

City Council
Elected by citizens in each of eight wards in the city. Adopts and provides for all ordinances, rules, and regulations as necessary for the general welfare of the city.

City Link
City Link centralizes access to city information and services through one, easy-to-remember phone number. Dial 727-8000 to speak with a professional customer service representative who will answer your questions, provide information, or dispatch a service request for work to be completed.

City Manager
The City Manager is hired by the city council to put policies determined by city council into action and to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city.

City Secretary
Prepares and maintains complete and accurate records of the proceedings of the city council members, to provide clerical support to the council members, and to furnish information and assistance to citizens.

Community and Business Development DepartmentThe focus of this department is revitalizing and stabilizing disadvantaged and deteriorating neighborhoods, facilitating economic development opportunities, and developing housing and neighborhood revitalization plans and programs that accurately reflect and address local needs and conditions.

Emergency Management
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emergency Management Aids the community before, during and after unusual events and major disasters through credible educational services, open communications and cooperative efforts.

Engineering
Designs and constructs water and sewer projects, streets and sidewalks, buildings, and other capital improvements. Reviews and inspects privately constructed street and utility projects to ensure compliance with city standards and provide information and guidance to private developers.

Information Systems (I.S.)
Provides technology infrastructure, planning, guidance, and resource management to assist the city in achieving its business objectives.

Inspections - Inspections is a division of Planning and Development Services
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division is responsible for permitting and inspecting all new building, electrical, plumbing and heating construction within the city of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County excluding the town of Kernersville.

Marketing & Communications
Maintains the city’s web site, produces CityPage, a full-page advertisement published periodically in the Winston-Salem Journal and The Chronicle; produces CityLine, a newsletter about city services inserted quarterly in water bills; and issues press releases to keep local reporters informed about events affecting city residents, and produces the television channel WSTV Digital Media.

Mayor
The mayor presides at all meetings of the council, votes in case of a tie, provides leadership on policy issues, recommends appointments to city boards and commissions, carries out special responsibilities during emergencies and represents the city at official functions.

Planning - Planning is a division of Planning and Development Services.
The Planning Division is a joint City-County agency serving Winston-Salem and unincorporated Forsyth County as well as the smaller municipalities of Bethania, Tobaccoville, Rural Hall.

Planning and Development Services
Comprised of Inspections and Planning, both joint city-county agencies.

Police
The Police Department ensures that all ordinances and laws of the city are enforced.

Stormwater/Erosion Control
Restores, protects, and preserves the surface waters within the City of Winston-Salem and maintains, repairs, maps, and evaluates drainage systems within the street right-of-way.

Transportation
Provides safe and efficient transportation for people and goods in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Maintains and improves roadway conditions, and develops transportation plans.

Utilities
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Division's primary responsibility is to collect, treat, and distribute water, waste water and solid waste.

WSTA
The Winston-Salem Transit Authority provides city bus services, as well as countywide transportation services for the physically handicapped.

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